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1998 Dodge RAM 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 520.

About this comparison →
520Owner complaints

Model-year median: 520

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
213
1995298
1996361
1997520
1998610
1999513
20001,112
2001
Compare all RAM 1500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Structure
102Power Train
85Air Bags
63Service Brakes, Hydraulic
56Engine And Engine Cooling
35
All reported categories
Seat Belts
34Suspension
34Electrical System
32Steering
28Tires
27Unknown Or Other
24Latches/locks/linkages
17Fuel System, Gasoline
14Visibility
14Equipment
13Vehicle Speed Control
13Service Brakes
7Exterior Lighting
6Fuel System, Other
6Wheels
5Seats
4Fuel/propulsion System
3Interior Lighting
2Engine
1Parking Brake
1Trailer Hitches
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

227 reports with mileage · 293 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

66 crash reports16 fire reports46 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

35 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE PISTON SEALS WERE NEVER SEATED PROPERLY WHICH ALLOWED ENGINE TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ENGINE LOCKED UP, AND CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #892827

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND ENGINE GOT LOUD AND LOCKED UP 50 MILES LATER. DEALER HAS VEHICLE CURRENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880996

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASSIONS, EVAP COMPONENTS, (VAPOR CANNISTERS) ATTACHED TO THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEATING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO ROAD HAZARD AND ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEIR LOCATION MAKES THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND ARE NOT REPAIRABLE…

Read full complaint

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASSIONS, EVAP COMPONENTS, (VAPOR CANNISTERS) ATTACHED TO THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEATING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO ROAD HAZARD AND ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEIR LOCATION MAKES THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND ARE NOT REPAIRABLE.

NHTSA ODI #739087

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

ENGINE WAS BURNING A QUART OF OIL WITHIN 700-900 MILES , DEALER CLAIMED THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC. DEALER DID REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD TWICE WHICH STOPPED PROBLEM FOR A WHILE, BUT DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #875830

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENIGINE DEVELOPED A VERY SERIOUS KNOCKING AND BANGING, AND RECENTLY LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND LOW OVER 3 QUARTS OF OIL IN ABOUT 800 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE. THE KNOCKING AND BANGING GOT SO BAD THAT I COULDN'T MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING A TRAFFIC HAZARD. IF ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT AND PASS THE KNOCK MAY PREVENT ACCELLERATION …

Read full complaint

ENIGINE DEVELOPED A VERY SERIOUS KNOCKING AND BANGING, AND RECENTLY LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND LOW OVER 3 QUARTS OF OIL IN ABOUT 800 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE. THE KNOCKING AND BANGING GOT SO BAD THAT I COULDN'T MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING A TRAFFIC HAZARD. IF ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT AND PASS THE KNOCK MAY PREVENT ACCELLERATION CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION. CONTINUED KNOCK WILL RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE AND DAMAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725881

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STARTS TO PING AFTER 40 MPH. DODGE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT DODGE IS WAITING TO PASS A NEW EPA LAW TO FIX PINGING PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED IN THOUSANDS OF 1998 DODGE RAMS. DODGE IS UNWILLING TO FIX MY TRUCK. I FEEL I HAVE THE RIGHT TO AT LEAST A NEW ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721485

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE DIES AT IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING. *ET

NHTSA ODI #782858

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherPower Train

VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR TO TIRES. MJS

NHTSA ODI #547882

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

FUEL PUMP AND MAP SENSOR FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS. MJS

NHTSA ODI #608026

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM FAILED TWICE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606189

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.